Norcold Refrigerator. Works on 120v not on 12V

[rcswando]

Any one have any ideas on troubleshooting this? The fridge works fine on shore power. When I flip the breaker off it should go right to 12V correct? Doing a survey on the boat today(1999 2800 SCR) and this is one of the things we found not operating properly. Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated.

[seapuppy]

check the dc breakers at the helm....also you may need to pull the unit and check to see if the relay is working properly....that is the usual culprit....


SP

[rcswando]

thanks SP. I will do that. How do you test a relay? or isolate the problem as to diagnose it is the relay.

[rcswando]

is there any dedicated switch? Or when 120 is removed or switched off on the electric panel, it automatically goes over to DC?

[pascavone]

1st i'd check the fuse.
2nd, i'd check if your getting 12v to the frig with a light tester.
3rd, the thermostat switch needs to be "on", to run on 12v, I' always leave my frig "off", unless on shore power.

[rcswando]

Thanks Pascavone, yep. Going to check all those when we get a better look at it thursday.

[shrew]

All good advice. One more troubleshooting method is to isolate the problem further. It could take forever to trace from the battery, to the switch, to the fuse block, to the fridge. Consider turning off the 12 V switch completely, then taking a 12 V battery and some jumper wires. Wire an inline fuse and connect to the battery. using a volt meter, verify you're reading 12 v. Connect to the 12v side of teh fridge and verify. If it works, it's before the fridge, such as a fuse. If it doesn't, it may be the relay or the fridge itself. to test fuses themselves, you could pull and inspect each fuse until yo ufind one that is blown. (They look like a light bulb with a blown element). You could also connect the wires to teh fridge to a simply 12V light, then pull each fuse until the light goes out. That will also identify which fuse in the block and allow you to more clearly identify teh circuit. Whcih ever you do, do so logically and systematically. It's a matter of identifying the path of the circuit, then systematically testing each section of the circuit until you narrow down where it is not working.

Good luck.

[rcswando]

Thanks guys. I am going to check it out this weekend. I appreciate all the help!

[paulswagelock]

Originally Posted by rcswando

Thanks guys. I am going to check it out this weekend. I appreciate all the help!

Remove the screws and slide the unit out. There is a 10 amp car type fuse on the rear of the unit that feeds the ac/dc converter. When that fuse blows, it works on ac but not dc. Mine did it last year, so I looked up the circuits online and noticed that fuse on the schematics. Good luck.

[rcswando]

Paul, that was it. Thank you to all for the help!

[shrew]

Originally Posted by rcswando

Paul, that was it. Thank you to all for the help!

LOL, what no love for Seapuppy or Pacavone?? After all they suggested that a week ago. JK I'm glad it worked out for you.

[paulswagelock]

Originally Posted by rcswando

Paul, that was it. Thank you to all for the help!

No problem, glad to help. These forums are a "pay it forward" community. If you see an answer you know, reply, someday you will be in the other position asking...

[rcswando]

Originally Posted by shrew

LOL, what no love for Seapuppy or Pacavone?? After all they suggested that a week ago. JK I'm glad it worked out for you.

I know shrew, problem is I found the fuses under the dash, none of those were blown, once I removed the fridge I found the fuse in the back of the unit. I should have thanked all of you guys fro all your replies. I really do appreciate it.

[seapuppy]

glad it all worked out....you buy the beer!!!



SP

[Airtim]

Resurrecting an old thread to say thanks Paul. I have a 1996 3200SCR that had this problem and it was just the fuse.

[geoffm70]

my issue was a faulty connection at the fuse box under the dash. moved the fridge wire to a spare and fixed!